Page 25 of Echoes of Eternity

He tilted his head as if to kiss me, making me tense, but didn’t go any further.

Don’t show weakness, Mae. Don’t show weakness.

I felt a surge of anger mixed with fear. “I’ve told you already. I’m done with that life. I don’t want any part of it. I’m building a future for myself, and I don’t need you dragging me back into the past. The past is back there for a reason.”

He smirked, seemingly amused by my defiance, raising his hand midair as if to touch me, but stopping before he did. “You’re always so stubborn. That’s what I like about you. But you should know, I’m not going anywhere. It’s only a matter of time before you come back to me. I’m a part of you, Mae, whether you realize it or not.”

I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. “Kaito, if you don’t leave right now, I’ll call the cops. I’m serious. I won’t hesitate.”

It was a weak threat when I knew his family had some on the tape. The perks of being part of organized crime.

His smirk faltered, but he remained unyielding, his fingers pinching the end of my hair. “Do what you have to do. I’m not afraid of a little trouble. And don’t think this is the last you’ll see of me. I’m determined to make you remember what we had, what we still have.”

I could feel a mix of frustration and dread bubbling up inside me.What we still have?Did he really think I’d just roll over and reminisce about the past? He wasn’t God’s gift to women as much as he would like to think so. I shot him a defiant look, my heart racing at the thought of what he might do next. The audacity! He wasstill playing the same old game, and I was done being a pawn. “You might want to reconsider that determination, Kaito. Some memories are better left dead and buried, six feet under.”

I sidestepped him and tried to quicken my pace. I didn’t anticipate his arms to shoot out and pull me against his chest or his unwanted kiss on my lips. Struggling in his grasp, I tried to pull away with no luck. He continued to force his kiss on me even as I jerked my head back.

With a growl he grabbed the back of my head and held me there. Surrendering for a few seconds to give him a false sense of hope, his grip loosened and I bit his lip, tasting blood. He hissed and threaded his fingers through my hair, jerking my head back while his other hand traveled to my lower back to pull me in closer to slam his lips on me again.

I saw red, bringing my knee up swiftly.

Kaito broke the kiss as his breath left his lungs, doubling over. I wiped my lips with the back of my hand and closed the distance to the driver’s side of my sedan, quickly getting in and locking the door.

I watched his dark silhouette kneel on the ground while I disappeared into the night in my car, feeling a mix of relief and dread. The weight of his words and his menacing demeanor weighed heavily on me. I knew I had to stay vigilant and keep my distance from him, no matter how persistent he might be.

The lunch crowdat the cozy, dimly lit café was a welcome change from the tattoo shop’s usual hustle. Chivonn and I had snagged a corner table, and I was grateful for the chance to unwind and talk about what had happened recently. As we settled into our seats, Chivonn’s curiosity was evident in her eyes.

“So, you mentioned on the phone that you had some drama the other night,” Chivonn said, her tone laced with concern. “What’s going on? Spill it.”

I sighed, pushing my menu aside and locking eyes with Chivonn. “You remember Kaito, right? My ex? He showed up outside the shop after closing; you guys had already left by then. He’s been acting like a total stalker, following me to places like the grocery store and now the shop. I mean, it’s nothing new but now it’s honestly freaking me out.”

Chivonn leaned in, her expression turning serious. “What do you mean, following you? And what do you mean it’s nothing new?”

I tilted my head and gave her a look. Really? I knew I had mentioned it in passing before. She knew exactly what I meant but just wanted the juicy details.

I ran a hand through my dark hair, the frustration bubbling up again just thinking about that jerk. “I thought he’d gotten the message when I broke up withhim. But he just… doesn’t seem to get it, no matter how many times I say it. He’s trying to worm his way back into my life, and I don’t need that. He showed up unannounced the other night, looking like he owned the place, acting all charming like nothing ever happened. It’s exhausting to deal with that much delusion.”

Chivonn frowned, concern etched on her face. “Oh, that kind of ex. I had one of those before and filed a restraining order on him. That’s really creepy, Mae. Have you talked to anyone about it? Maybeyoushould consider a restraining order.”

I groaned, scanning the café for any eavesdroppers before leaning closer to the table and signaling for her to do the same. It wasn’t that simple. If it was, I would have done it a long time ago.

“I can’t,” I whispered, my voice low. “He’s part of the Yakuza. They have their ways of getting around the system, so I’m pretty much out of luck.”

“What?!” She quickly slapped a hand over her mouth, darting her eyes around to ensure we weren’t drawing attention. Her hands flapped awkwardly as a wave of questions seemed to bubble up inside her.

“I know,” I deadpanned.

Just then, a barista approached, flashing a smile. “Are you two doing alright? Would you like to try one of our new drinks on the menu?”

We exchanged a quick, sheepish glance before I replied, “Uh, yeah, we’re good for now. Thanks!”

The barista nodded with a strained smile and walked away, leaving us in the awkward silence that followed.As soon as she was out of earshot, Chivonn leaned in, her ample bosom pressed against the top of the table, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Okay, spill! What do you mean he’s part of the Yakuza? Like, actual organized crime? How did you even get involved with someone like that?”

I took a deep breath, knowing the floodgates had opened. “It’s a long story, but we started dating when I was young and naive. We had mutual friends, in a sense. I didn’t realize the depth of his connections until it was too late.”

“And now he’s stalking you after years? This is insane!” Chivonn’s voice was a mix of concern and disbelief. She flashed a sharp glance from my head to where my crotch would be and inadvertently shifted one of my arms to cover myself.

“Stop that,” I gritted out, face flaming.

---